Here’s How Much The GAA Stands To Make If Ireland’s RWC 2023 Bid Is Successful

The 12 stadiums included in Ireland’s Rugby World Cup 2023 bid were officially revealed yesterday.

Eight GAA grounds form the bulk of the list alongside famous rugby stadia including Ireland’s national ground, the Aviva Stadium (Dublin) along with Thomond Park (Limerick), Ravenhill (Belfast) and the RDS (Dublin).

That’s based on direct incomes for renting grounds and indirect benefit, arising from the upgrading of several grounds. The overall figure could be more than €30m, depending on how many GAA stadiums are used in the final selection.

A lot of these stadiums would need substantial upgrading however, including Croke Park.

A Rugby World Cup, like any good sporting finals, lifts the standards of stadiums – so all stadiums require work,” IRFU chief operating officer Kevin Potts said yesterday.

“It’s not just a case of rocking up to Jones’ Road and wrapping a banner around it (Croke Park), it needs to be upped to a standard for a Rugby World Cup and a global final.

“All of the required overlay has been planned, it has already been costed and we’ll get into more detail, drawings and imagery in the coming months. With the remedial work, you’re talking about things like floodlighting, big screens, media centres, hospitality, putting in additional seating at some of the stadia.

“We want to have at least a certain minimum mix of seating in all of the stadia. We’re also looking at covering some of the terracing.”

The GAA charged around €1m per game for the use of Croke Park when it hosted Ireland’s rugby and soccer games during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road in 2007-2010. It yielded a total take of €36m. This time round they are in a position to drive an even harder bargain, given the size and nature of the proposed event.